Job Discussion Forums

chromium · Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 69 Location: Dalian, China

How do you know if my school pays for it or not? Mine does pay for it.

Also, when "new guy" was asking about the costs of things, I didn't know his particular circumstances from his original post. Obviously, if he is not planning on working as a teacher for a private school as his main profession, his situation will be different from my experience.

Also, not one school I've worked for has simply handed me the cash for the VISA and said "here's the money, now you take care of the VISA"

Maybe that's been your experience, but it has not been mine.

Harry from NWE · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 283

chromium · Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 69 Location: Dalian, China

whatever, buddy. It doesn't really matter to me anyway. The question was how much a visa costs.

Richfilth · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 225 Location: Warszawa

I think the reason Harry is so keen to press the point home is that suggesting your school pay your visa is really not a very common idea in Poland, and could be considered bad advice. Why would any rational business go to the expense and headache of paying for a US or Ozzie citizen's visa when Brits can be had for free?

800zl is around a week's salary for most new teachers, and when you're just starting out, not to be sniffed at. No rational business is going to carry that cost if a) the employee will pay it for them or b) they can employ someone who doesn't bring that charge with them (ie a UK or Irish citizen.)

If you like Chromium, tell us which school pays for it all - I've spent the same amount of time in Poland as you, and I've not come across a school that offers anything for "free" - they deduct it from your salary, just as Harry says; be it visas, rent or travel cards.

And if 800zl "doesn't really matter" to you, can I have it please?

chromium · Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 69 Location: Dalian, China

well said - both of your replies. We'll see what "new guy" has to say when he goes thru the Polish process without any aid from anyone who does not speak Polish. .

I could be wrong. I hope I am wrong. I wish you and "new guy" well.
The only reason I'm posting is to say what my experience has been.[/list]

Johnny_C_NYC · Joined: 09 Apr 2008 Posts: 21 Location: New York City

the new guy · Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 127

i've got plenty of friends in the city i am in... so as for getting a translator- i can choose about 14 ppl. And also 3 contacts of 3 English speaking law firms.

Johnny C>> you need to go to your home countries Polish Consulates website for the info they require from you. There is tons of info on this site and this thread. I'm not going to look for you. Its really not that hard. 1 THING >> you must return to your home country to get your initial work Visa. no option.

s.mackesey · Joined: 22 Oct 2008 Posts: 1

So how exactly does it work if you plan to go to Poland to get certified and then interview for jobs? On the Polish consulate website, it says that for a visa you need a letter from your employer or proof of means to live there for a year; what if I have enough money to support myself during the course and a few months after, but not enough for a year (I'm planning to make it through the job I'll get)? Has anyone tried to obtain a visa under these conditions? I'll be able to get a letter from the school that's certifying me, but I'm not sure this will be enough to get me a visa.

And am I correct in thinking there's no possible way to obtain a visa from within Poland (as that is when I would be able to have a letter from my employer)? I have to get it here in the USA before going, or I'm doomed to the 90 day limit?

Johnny_NYC, it sounds like you are or were in a similar situation to me. What's happened?

lundjstuart · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 211 Location: Warsaw, Poland

you should just come over here and use that 90 day tourist visa! When they ask what you will be doing in PL, just say on holiday! You can have a school over here file for a visa after you get hired! From experience, this takes some time, around 60 or so days. Forget about the visa in the states! Its a waste of time! As for money, get a bank account over here (you only need a passport), they calculate if you have enough by the cost of your rent x months that you wish to stay.
good luck to you!

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It would be very interesting to have exact, up-to-date information regarding whether a visa can be issued while you are in Poland, or if you now have to go to your home country to make the application.

This would be a new requirement (but I suspect it's true).

If so, it's going to impact the teacher training centres in a negative way, for sure.

dynow · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 1080

78 said:

"If so, it's going to impact the teacher training centres in a negative way, for sure."

it already has. my school does it's own pre-training before you can start teaching, and they've basically had it with dealing with Americans. the paperwork is such a headache. the only thing that keeps them from closing out the whole "i'm an american coming to Poland and I don't know what to do after that" option is that many students still desire native speakers, and in my experience, American native speakers. they continue to deal with it because schools without natives struggle to sign contracts with advanced students.

AussieDave · Joined: 12 Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Long Beach, CA

Hey all
I'm in Poland now working for a school here who is willing to help with the visa.
1. I have been told by them that under the work visa I will be taxed around 50% of my wages!!!??? Is this true??? Is there a way around it at all?

2. The business option, I was told was around 250-300zl per month (for taxes/medical insurance) which is obviously a lot less than 50% tax.

3. I have also heard of non-EU (americans/australians) ignoring the new requirements and staying here illegally.

Has anyone heard of this situation going badly for non-EU who stay past the 90 day deadline?

I guess those are the 3 options

Any advice on the above?
Thanks
Dave

dynow · Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 1080

i have posted this same remark so many times, but I'll say it again:

if you are non-EU, get your own business. it's flat out better. do the initial work, and simply renew your KB every year. that's it.

regarding taxes with your own business, it will be around 300 per month for ZUS, and income tax is entirely dependent on how much you earn, but it cannot exceed 19%, i usually pay a bit less.

regarding staying here illegally, sure, you can work for some schools that are willing to pay you cash, or do private students, but once you try and leave poland, your passport will have an expired stamp, which may lead to some problems.

although, again, i have posted about this several times before, I know someone personally who was far beyond the deadline when he applied for his KB, received it with no problems. i have no idea what it is like for people from other countries, but i can say that from personal experience and from other americans that i know living here, getting residency is no problem as long as you have someone with you that speaks polish and knows what offices to drag you to. it takes a while but it's not that hard to do.

again, forget the work visa, unless of course you're just doing a short 6 month honeymoon tour of poland or something. if that's your situation and it turns out to be easier to get the ball rolling with the visa, then go for it, otherwise you will go through the residency card rigamarole, get your residency and leaving shortly after.